Getting farm chores done when you have a baby - any tips?

[mountaintopchicken]

I am a brand new mom (4 weeks) who has a huge garden, four chicken coops, a small orchard and various other projects.

So far, all I am doing is nursing and changing diapers, and DH has taken over all my chores for the time being.

But, once I get more in the swing of things, I want to get back to doing my chores myself. I especially want to keep my giant garden (100 ft x 80 ft) going, because I want to make all of my own baby food from it next season. I am usually the one who does most of the tractor work (mows the fields, turns the manure piles etc.), and I usually do 50% of the manual labor, like weed wacking the fence lines, shoveling, raking, pasture upkeep.... The place wouldn't be the same without my work. A lot of moms I talk to say forget it, you just won't be able to do it. But I bet lots of moms here keep their gardens and animals going along with their kids. Any tips on doing it all from experienced farming mommies?

 

[HEChicken]

When my kids were babies, I invested in a couple of different backpack infant carriers. I would strap baby or toddler to my back and get on with what I had to do for the day. This worked both inside, when I needed to cook a meal and had a fussy baby who wanted to be held (baby could see over my shoulder what I was doing and was content in a way he/she wasn't content sitting in a bouncinette on the floor), and outside, where I have pics of me mowing the lawn with DD on my back with her sunbonnet on for protection from the sun. I wasn't a farmer, but I'd imagine you could accomplish many of your chores with baby in a backpack (when they were really infants, I had a front pouch type carrier that didn't leave me quite as free but at least my hands were still free so I could get more done than if I were carrying the baby), and baby will be stimulated by watching you and will therefore be more content.

 

[Katy]

When my kids were babies (they're 33, 30 and almost 28 now) I crammed as much into naptimes as possible. If I had things to do outside when they were awake I had a playpen I set up outside in the shade. They rode along in the tractor with me when I was doing fieldwork. If we were working cattle, they were either in the playpen or if it was too cold for that.....they were in the pickup cab parked were I could see them and check on them. I also would at times put them in either the front pack carrier or when they were older a backpack. Now 30+ years later I'm doing the same exact thing with the grandbabies that I babysit several days a week.

Congrats on the new baby.

 

[suburbanminifarm]

I second HEchicken's reply. You absolutely have to set your mind that you are going to be old fashioned about this and "wear" your baby. Farming moms have been doing it since the beginning of time. Find a comfy front sling, then backpack that works for YOU. Your baby can even nurse while in some of these. Simpler is better! I used one my mom had for me in the 70's, I still have it and sometimes I think I should re-manufacture the style since it was so easy to use and could be crumpled up in a small ball and stuffed in my purse easily. Later on you could bring a large quilt outside with you and just put baby on it to play! (oops, if the weather's nice) I'ts called "blanket training", look it up. Good Luck!!!!!!!

 

[LarryPQ]

Carry the baby, utilize naptimes, and well-placed pack-n-play or swing.

You have to be careful with the swing though, they don't call it the neglect-o-matic for nothing.

Once you get everything in the flow of things, it is easy. Then the baby becomes mobile and your whole world will change again.

 

[FarmerChick]

I own a working farm.

when she was newborn I put here in a bassinet, right in the front door. I have glass panel storm door. I would mow the front lawn and drive buy and stop and check the bassinet and the sleeping baby.

when I mowed the back, out on the porch in her bassinet she went...sleeping like crazy. I mowed and checked.


When asleep, I RAN TO the barn, fed goats----ran back to the house, checked the kid sleeping-----RAN back to the barn, watered.
Back to the house. back to feed cattle, back to the house, LOL

I moved! I moved full speed..LOL

When older she came with me to do it all. Just brought a blanket for the ground and let her have at it...she played while I worked.

Anyone can bring a kid along to do anything...you will be fine!!!! It is a learning to make do habit. You will get it...I had too..LOL

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I had to laugh when I kept seeing the word run in your post. I can identify so well with that. There were/and are times I feel like I spend more time running between the cow lot and the house than getting work done.

 

[saddina]

First get a good baby sling. I'm not a fan of the backpack models, I'm a small woman and getting an infant onto my back was a somewhat dicey thing. However with the sling I could slide the babies in, and still have my hands free to work. Get one that can tie in several ways. For naptimes I'd put a pack n play in the shade, put in a batter operated baby monitor, and wear the reciever as a pager. Baby sleeps I shovel.

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[chickeypoo]

i don't know... my youngest is almost 2 and i still get nothing done haha.

if you want to wear the baby.. i suggest a mai tai style carrier. they can go from front to back.. are easy to make and wear. i don't have one.. i tried one out but my DD was a chunk and my back coudln't handle it.

i was sad. i have two carriers and neither worked for me. i have a ring sling and a H2duo. i tried the mai tai and that was the easiest... and not too expensive.. you can look on diaperswappers.com i believe to find one.. WAHMs make them. good luck

Sue

 

[rainplace]

Quote:
I had to laugh when I kept seeing the word run in your post. I can identify so well with that. There were/and are times I feel like I spend more time running between the cow lot and the house than getting work done.

That made me LOL too. Nowadays they have those baby monitor things you can carry around with you!